Virginia Layoffs — December 2017
Employers in Virginia posted 3 WARN Act notices in December 2017, affecting an estimated 341 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to November and down 71% versus December 2016. The average filing covered 114 workers, with 2 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | 1 | 213 |
| Professional Services | 2 | 128 |
The Transportation sector saw the heaviest impact with 213 workers across 1 notice. On a related front, Professional Services reported 128 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk City | 2 | 291 |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 50 |
Norfolk City absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 85% of all affected workers with 291 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 2 | 291 |
| Richmond | 1 | 50 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 2 | 263 |
| Layoff | 1 | 78 |
The high proportion of closures (77% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Virginia's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Wisconsin Airline | Norfolk | 213 | Closure | |
| URS Federal Services | Norfolk | 78 | Layoff | |
| Taylor Communications | Richmond | 50 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Air Wisconsin Airline at its Norfolk facility, reporting 213 affected workers. URS Federal Services followed with 78 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest a easing in workforce disruptions across Virginia, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. The Transportation sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by Virginia. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is updated daily by WARN Firehose. View all Virginia WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.